Electronic equipment and operation control method for electronic equipment

ABSTRACT

An electronic unit that is permitted to undergo operation control on the basis of a timer reservation set by a user includes a setting section for setting a time designated by the user, an operation control section for controlling the operation of the electronic unit in accordance with time set by the setting section, a display section for displaying an operation portion for operating the electronic unit, a display control section such that when the electronic unit is operative in accordance with the operation control section, it controls the display section so that a specific display is carried out on the display section, and a designation detecting section for detecting a designation of the user with respect to the specific display, whereby when a designation of the user is detected by the designation detecting section, the operation control section conducts a control to neglect the time set by the setting section and to continue the operation of the electronic unit when the designation of the user is detected.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to an electronic equipment and an operationcontrol method therefor which can carry out operation control by timer.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, audio equipments having timer function have been known.This timer function is, e.g., function to allow power supply of theequipment to be turned ON or OFF at timer designation time such as starttime and/or end time, etc. that user has set in advance. Moreover, thistimer function is function to execute operation such as receivingoperation of broadcasting program by tuner and/or reproduction of CD(Compact Disc), etc. at time that user has set. Namely, by employing anapproach to allow user to make setting such that, e.g. tuner is turnedON at start time which is timer designation time, such a control iscarried out that tuner is operative when current time measured by thetimer function reaches start time. Accordingly, user can set, e.g.,rising scheduled time as start time to utilize the audio equipment asalarm clock. Moreover, by employing an approach to allow user to set, asend time, time that a predetermined time has been passed from starttime, such a control is carried out that, e.g., power supply ofelectronic equipment is turned OFF when current time reaches the endtime. As stated above, if timer designation time is set, ON/OFFoperation of the power supply of audio equipment, etc. can be controlledwithout necessity of manual operation of user.

Further, such a timer function is used also in electronic equipment,e.g., air conditioner to carry out air conditioning within the room,etc. in addition to the audio equipment, and such a configuration isprovided that, e.g., operation of the air-conditioner to startoperation, etc. at designated time can be controlled.

Meanwhile, in the case where, e.g., user listens to broadcasting programselected by tuner in the state where power supply is turned ON by thetimer function, when favourite music or interesting news is broadcastedat time close to end time, there are instances where user is desirous tolisten to such broadcasting program continuously to that time. In such acase, it is required that user carries out operation to cancel, i.e.,nullify timer designation time, and audio equipments provided with,e.g., mechanical operation keys dedicated for timer function are known.However, for users who do not utilize such timer function, operationkeys relating to timer function would be useless. In addition, whenthere are useless operation keys, this constitutes the cause ofconfusion of user in carrying out various operations.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

An object of this invention is to solve problems as described above.

To attain this object, in accordance with this invention, there isprovided an electronic equipment, which is permitted to undergooperation control on the basis of timer reservation by user, comprisingsetting means for setting time designated by user, operation controlmeans for controlling operation of the electronic equipment inaccordance with time set by the setting means, display means fordisplaying operation means for operating the electronic equipment,display control means for controlling the display means so that specificdisplay is carried out on the display means when the electronicequipment is operative in accordance with the operation control means,and designation detecting means for detecting designation of user withrespect to the specific display, whereby when designation of user isdetected by the designation detecting means, the operation control meansconducts a control to neglect the time set by the setting means and suchthat operation of the electronic equipment when designation of user isdetected is continued.

In addition, in accordance with this invention, there is provided anoperation control method for an electronic equipment permitted toundergo operation control on the basis of timer reservation by user, themethod including a setting step of setting time designated by user, anoperation control step of controlling operation of the electronicequipment in accordance with the set time, a display control step ofcontrolling display means so that specific display is carried out whenthe electronic equipment is operative, a designation detection step ofdetecting designation of user with respect to the specific display, anda step such that when designation of user is detected at the designationdetection step, control is conducted such that the set time is neglectedand operation of the electronic equipment when designation of user isdetected is continued.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a model view showing outline of information delivery system towhich this invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing more practical appearance ofrecording/reproducing apparatus (unit) and portable unit to which thisinvention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a more practical configuration of therecording/reproducing unit to which this invention is applied.

FIG. 4A is a view showing a more practical display example at the timeof ordinary operation in display section of the recording/reproducingunit.

FIG. 4B is a view showing a more practical display example at the timeof timer operation in display section of the recording/reproducing unit.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining more practical timer operation ofCPU of the recording/reproducing unit.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining more practical operation of CPU intimer reserved (reservation executed) processing.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining more practical operation of timerin interruption processing.

FIG. 8 is a view showing another more practical display example indisplay section of the recording/reproducing unit.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Explanation will now be given with reference to the attached drawings inconnection with an electronic equipment and an operation control methodfor an electronic equipment according to this invention.

FIG. 1 is a model view showing outline of information delivery system towhich this invention is applied. This information delivery system isessentially composed of a recording/reproducing apparatus (unit) 10 thatgeneral user uses in home 2, etc., and an information center 1 asinformation service organization for providing information used in therecording/reproducing unit 10.

The information center 1 and the recording/reproducing unit 10 carry outcommunication of various information through a communication line 3. Thecommunication line 3 is comprised of, e.g., public line network such asISDN line, etc. or dedicated line network constructed exclusively forsuch system, and the form of the line is not specifically limited. Inaddition, information communication between the information center 1 andthe recording/reproducing unit 10 may be carried out through satellitecommunication line composed of, e.g., a communication satellite 4 and aparabolic antenna 5 installed at each home 2, etc.

The recording/reproducing unit 10, to which this invention is applied,that general user uses comprises data file storage section of largecapacity therewithin, and has drive function of the so-called packagemedia such as optical disc, magneto-optical disc, magnetic disc,semiconductor memory, etc., data input function from tuner for receivingbroadcasting program or other equipment, and data input function throughcommunication line, etc. In addition, the recording/reproducing unit 10stores, into the data file storage section, as respective files, audiodata, video data, other various data reproduced from package media thatuser purchases such as optical disc, magneto-optical disc, magnetic discor semiconductor memory, etc., and various data inputted from otherequipments and/or communication lines.

Further, e.g., files of music, etc. stored in the recording/reproducingunit 10 as respective one files every respective one musics arearbitrarily reproduced by user. Accordingly, if e.g., user having alarge number of optical discs stores all musics of all optical discs asrespective one files in the recording/reproducing unit 10, it ispossible to reproduce desired music, etc. without purposely selectingoptical disc, etc. to load it into the recording/reproducing unit 10.

The information center 1 provides various information for pay or forfree with respect to the recording/reproducing unit 10. For example, theinformation center 1 provides, with respect to the recording/reproducingunit 10, as information (additional information) relating to files ofmusics, etc. stored in the recording/reproducing unit 10, text data suchas name of music (track name), artist name, words (lyric lines), etc.,picture data such as music image, picture of artist or album jacket,etc., address of internet home page of artist (URL: Uniform ResourceLocator), information relating to author's right, names of the concernedpersons (songwriter, composer, producer, etc . . . , etc. Therecording/reproducing unit, sores e.g., these information provided fromthe information center 1 in correspondence with files of music, and/oruses such information for various operations to display them on thedisplay section, etc.

Moreover, the information center 1 transmits audio data itself, i.e.,music, etc. to the recording/reproducing unit 10, and therecording/reproducing unit 10 stores received audio data as file.Namely, sale/providing system of music, etc. different from sale bypackage media such as optical disc, etc. is constructed.

In this information delivery system, as apparatus (unit) that user uses,there is a portable recording/reproducing unit (hereinafter referred toas “portable unit”) 50 connectable to the recording/reproducing unit 10.The portable unit 50 comprises therewithin data file storage section,e.g., solid-state memory, etc. which can store file such as audio data,etc. Further, when the portable unit 50 is connected to therecording/reproducing unit 10, files stored in the recording/reproducingunit 10, e.g., music, etc. are copied or moved into the data filestorage section within the portable unit 50. Conversely, files stored inthe data file storage section within the portable unit 50 are copied ormoved into the data file storage section within therecording/reproducing unit 10.

User moves or copies, into the portable unit 50, desired file of filesstored in the recording/reproducing unit 10, thereby making it possibleto utilize that file at the portable unit 50. For example, user movesfiles of music that he desires to listen to at that day from therecording/reproducing unit 10 to the portable unit 50, thereby making itpossible to listen to such music by using the portable unit 50, e.g., atthe place where he goes out.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing more practical appearance of therecording/reproducing unit 10 and the portable unit 50. It is to benoted that the configuration which will be described here is an exampleto the last, as appearances of respective equipments and user interfaceconfiguration, i.e., configurations for operation and/or display, andconnection form between the recording/reproducing unit 10 and theportable unit 50, etc., various configurations may be conceivable inaddition to the above.

As shown in FIG. 2, the recording/reproducing unit 10 is caused to be,e.,g., equipment of the so-called radio cassette type so as to becomeconformity with use at home of user. It should be noted that therecording/reproducing unit 10 may be of the component type.

At the recording/reproducing unit 10, operation keys, operation buttonsand rotational pressing type keys, etc. in which menu is changed byrotation and is determined by pressing (jog dials) are provided at theequipment front panel, etc. as operation elements Ka, wherein user usesthe above-mentioned keys or buttons for carrying out various operations.Moreover, as output means with respect to user, there are providedspeakers 35 for outputting reproduction sound, etc. and a displaysection 24 for displaying various information. The display section 24 isconstituted by, e.g., liquid crystal panel, etc.

Further, in order to reproduce, at the recording/reproducing unit 10,data, etc. from optical disc, e.g., audio CD, CD-ROM (Compact Disc ReadOnly Memory) that user has, or to carry out dubbing of data from opticaldisc to hard disc therewithin which will be described later, there isprovided a CD insertion portion of a CD-ROM drive 17 into which opticaldisc is loaded.

Similarly, in order to allow the recording/reproducing unit 10 to carryout record/reproduction of magneto optical disc, e.g., audio MD (MiniDisc: Trade name), data MD, etc. that user has, or to carry out dubbingof data from magneto-optical disc with respect to hard disc therewithin,there is provided a MD insertion portion of the MD drive 18 into whichmagneto-optical disc is loaded.

Further, at the recording/reproducing unit 10, various terminals ta forcarrying out connection to other equipments are prepared. The terminalsta are terminals used for connection of, e.g., microphone, headphone,and line connection terminal, optical digital connection terminal,and/or interface connector, etc. for connection to other audio visualequipment or personal computer, etc.

Further, as operation input means for user at the recording/reproducingunit 10, there may be employed a keyboard 90 and a remote commander 91in addition to the above-described operation elements Ka. When thekeyboard 90 is connected through connector for keyboard of the terminalsta, operation information from the keyboard 90 is inputted to therecording/reproducing unit 10 through the terminal ta, and when infraredray transmitting section is mounted at the keyboard 90, operationinformation is outputted from the keyboard 90 by the infrared wirelesssystem and operation information is inputted from a light receivingsection 21 to the recording/reproducing unit 10.

The remote commander 91 outputs operation information, e.g., by theinfrared ray system. That operation information by the infrared raysignal is inputted from the light receiving section 21 to therecording/reproducing unit 10. It is to be noted that output ofoperation information in the case where keyboard 90 employs the wirelesssystem and/or output of operation information from the remote commander91 may be carried out by radio wave in place of infrared ray.

Further, at the recording/reproducing unit 10, an input pen 93 forminginput means together with the display section 24 is provided. Namely,picture for operation is displayed as the so-called GUI on the displaysection 24, and user allows the input pen 93 to be in touch with pictureon the display section 24, whereby operation input corresponding to thatpicture is carried out as touch pen input.

In addition, at the recording/reproducing unit 10, there is provided aPCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) slot39. Thus, transmission/reception of data to and from other equipments,etc. can be made through PCMCIA card.

The portable unit 50 is equipment caused to be compact and light inweight in order that it is suitable in the case where user carries anduses it. At the portable unit 50, various operation keys for allowinguser to carry out various operations are provided as operation elementKb. Although not shown, it is a matter of course that jog dials of therotational pressing type, etc. may be provided.

Moreover, at the portable unit 50, a speaker 68 for outputtingreproduction sound, etc. and a display section 57 for displaying variousinformation are provided as output means with respect to user. Thedisplay section 57 is formed by, e.g., liquid crystal panel, etc.Further, at the portable unit 50, a microphone 65 is provided as inputmeans of user.

Further, at the portable unit 50, various terminals tb for carrying outconnection to other equipments are prepared. The terminals tb areterminals used for connection to microphone and or headphone. Inaddition, the terminals tb are line connection terminal, optical digitalconnection terminal and/or interface connector, etc. which areconnectable to other audio visual equipment and/or personal computer,etc. For example, when user carries such portable unit 50 to listen tomusic, etc., headphone 92 is caused to be connected to headphoneterminal of the terminals tb in addition to reproduction of speech(sound) from the speaker 68, thereby permitting user to listen to music,etc. by using the headphone 92.

User connects the recording/reproducing unit 10 and the portable unit50, thereby making it possible to carry out various data communicationbetween the recording/reproducing unit 10 and the portable unit 50,e.g., communication of actual file data such as audio data, etc. andcontrol data necessary for such communication processing therebetween,etc.

In this more practical example, at the recording/reproducing unit 10,there is provided a mounting (loading) portion MT having a connector 27.As the result of the fact that the portable unit 50 is mounted (loaded)into the mounting (loading) section MT, both equipments are connected.When the portable unit 50 is mounted (loaded) into the mounting(loading) portion MT, a connector 60 provided at the lower portion ofthe portable unit 50 and the connector 27 within the mounting (loading)portion MT are connected. Thus, data communication between bothequipments is carried out through the connectors 60, 27. In this case,with respect to connection between the recording/reproducing unit 10 andthe portable unit 50, there may be employed, e.g., line connectionsystem using communication cable or wireless (radio) connection systemutilizing infrared rays, etc.

The more practical internal configuration of the recording/reproducingunit 10 will now be described with reference to FIG. 3.

At the recording/reproducing unit 10, as described above, operationelements Ka of the push type or rotational pressing type are provided asa panel operation section 20. As the result of the fact that the paneloperation section 20 is operated by user, operation signals forexecuting various operations of the recording/reproducing unit 10 aregenerated. Thus, the recording/reproducing unit 10 becomes operative inaccordance with the operation signals.

Moreover, while input pen 93 is shown in FIG. 2, there is provided, atthe recording/reproducing section 10, an input detecting section 42 forthe purpose of detecting that input by the input pen 93 has been carriedout with respect to operation key display of the display section 24.Further, a pen driver 41 for driving the input pen 93 is also provided.As the input system by input pen 93, e.g., the electrostatic capacitydetection system is used. Namely, electrode is provided at the front endof the input pen 93 and the input pen 93 is driven by the pen driver 41.On the other hand, electrodes are disposed in a matrix form within therange corresponding to the input detecting section 42 of the displaysurface of the display section 24. When the front end of the input pen93 touches any one of the electrodes in the matrix form, electrostaticcapacity of the electrode at the position where the input pen 93 hastouched varies so that position corresponding thereto is detected. Thus,it is judged that operation input as operation picture displayed at thatposition has been carried out. In this case, as the input system byinput pen, other systems may be used. For example, there is conceivablea mechanical configuration such that switch electrodes of matrix form ofdouble layers are disposed as input detection sections 42, wherebyswitch electrode at the position pressed by the input pen 93 is incontact therewith so that position of the switch electrode in contacttherewith is detected. In this case, pen driver 41 is unnecessary. Inaddition, there is no necessity that input pen 93 is of dedicated pentype.

Moreover, for example, in order to facilitate input of name of music andartist name, etc. corresponding to recorded audio information, keyboard90 and/or remote commander 91 can be utilized as described above. Inthis case, keyboard 90 is connected to USB (universal serial bus)terminal ta6 so that input by the keyboard 90 can be made. In otherwords, input signal from the keyboard 90, i.e., operation signal isdelivered to USB driver through USB terminal ta6, and is taken into therecording/reproducing unit 10. In this example, various terminals ta1 tota7 in FIG. 3 correspond to respective ones of terminals ta shown inFIG. 2.

Operation signal by infrared rays from the remote commander 91 andoperation signal in the case where the keyboard 90 carries out infraredray output are subjected to photoelectric conversion at the lightreceiving section 21. The signals thus obtained are delivered to aninfrared interface driver 22 and are taken into therecording/reproducing unit 10. It is to be noted that there may beemployed such a configuration to output, to the external, data throughinfrared interface driver 22 or USB driver 23.

At the recording/reproducing unit 10, there are provided a RAM 13, a ROM12, a flash memory 14 which are ordinary components of the personalcomputer. The operation of the entirety of the recording/reproducingunit 10 is controlled by a CPU 11. Transmission/reception of file dataand/or control data between respective blocks are carried out through abus B1.

Operation input signals inputted by the panel operation section 20, theinput pen 93, the remote commander 91, and the keyboard 90, etc. whichare described above are transferred to the CPU 11. Thus, the CPU 11executes a predetermined processing corresponding to each operation. Forthis reason, in the ROM 12, there is stored program, etc. forcontrolling the operation of the recording/reproducing unit 10 inaccordance with an input signal inputted as the result of the fact thatthe panel operation section 20, etc. is operated. At the RAM 13 and theflash memory 14, data area and task area required in executing programare temporarily secured. It is to be noted that such an approach may beemployed that program loader is stored in the ROM 12 and program itselfis loaded into the flash memory 14 by the program loader.

A timer 45 has time-count function of current time and is caused to beof structure capable of notifying, to the CPU 11, timer designation timeas monitoring time, e.g., operation start time and operation end time ofthe recording/reproducing unit 10. The timer 45 is started in the statewhere timer designation time is stored in the RAM 13 by setting of userand carries out comparison between current time of the timer 45 andtimer designation time stored in the RAM 13 by interruption processingwhich will be described later. Thus, the timer 45 is operative so thatwhen current time becomes in correspondence with operation start time,it carries out operation start notification with respect to the CPU 11,and when current time becomes in correspondence with operation end time,it carries out operation end notification with respect to the CPU 11. Inthis example, in the RAM 13, along with timer designation time, there isalso stored designation operation information corresponding to operationcontent, e.g., reception of broadcasting program by tuner and/orreproduction of CD-ROM loaded with respect to CD-ROM drive 17, etc.Namely, the relationship between various operation starts and time isset by user. The timer 45 carries out a required notification processingwith respect to the CPU 11 for the purpose of executing such setinformation.

The CPU 11 carries out operation control based on designation operationinformation stored in the RAM 13 when it receives notification from thetimer 45. Further, in this more practical example, when the CPU 11receives notification relating to operation start from the timer 45, itexecutes operation controls and carries out a control to display, on thedisplay section 24, symbol indicating that timer operation is beingcarried out, i.e., active mark. It is to be noted this symbol will bedescribed later in detail.

With respect to the CD-ROM drive 17, optical disc, e.g., audio CD,CD-ROM, CD text, etc. is loaded from the CD insertion portion of theCD-ROM drive 17 shown in FIG. 2. Information stored on the optical discis read out by the optical pick-up at one time speed or higher speed,e.g., 16 times speed or 32 times speed. Moreover, with respect to MDdrive 18, optical disc or magneto-optical disc, e.g., audio MD, or dataMD, etc. is loaded from the MD insertion portion of the MD drive 18shown in FIG. 2. By the optical pick-up of the MD drive 18, informationstored on the optical disc or the magneto-optical disc is read out, orinformation is recorded with respect to loaded magneto-optical disc.

It is to be noted that while both CD-ROM drive 17 and MD drive 18 areprovided in this more practical example, either one of them may beprovided, or there may be employed drives corresponding to other mediaas media for storing information, e.g., MO disc (magneto-optical disc),optical discs or magnetic discs of other systems, or memory card, etc.provided with semiconductor memory.

The recording/reproducing unit 10 comprises a tuner 46, and the tuner 46is caused to be of structure to select and receive, through an antennaportion Ant comprised of antenna corresponding to various broadcastradio waves, broadcast program of, such as, for example, televisionbroadcast, i.e., ground wave broadcast or satellite broadcast, radiobroadcast such as AM broadcast or FM broadcast, etc. In addition, thetuner 46 comprises A/D converter (not shown) and is caused to be ofstructure to convert receiving signal of the selected broadcast programinto digital audio data to output such data.

There is provided hard disc drive (HDD) 15 for carrying outrecording/reproduction of information with respect to hard disc as largecapacity of storage means within the recording/reproducing unit 10. Atthe HDD 15, there are stored audio information, e.,g., music data, etc.which has been read out from, e.g., CD-ROM drive 17 or MD drive 18 andpicture data such as text data, e.g., disc title, name of music (trackname), artist name, words, music image, picture of artist or albumjacket, etc as additional information relating to file of this audioinformation. In addition, e.g., audio information of broadcast programselected by the tuner 46 is stored with respect to HDD 15.

At the recording/reproducing unit 10, there are provided an encoder 28for compressing audio data by the ATRAC2 (Adaptive Transform AcousticCoding 2, trade name) and a decoder 29 for decoding the audio datacompressed by the ATRAC2 system. The encoder 28 and the decoder 29respectively carry out encode operation and decode operation withrespect to audio data delivered thereto in accordance with control ofthe CPU 11.

Moreover, at the recording/reproducing unit 10, there is provided abuffer memory 16 for temporarily storing audio data to be processed. Thebuffer memory 16 carries out write/read operation of data by control ofthe CPU 11.

For example, in the case of transferring, to the HDD 15, audio datawhich has been read out from the optical disc in the CD-ROM drive 17, aspre-processing where audio data is recorded with respect to the HDD 15,audio data which has been read out from the optical disc is temporarilystored into the buffer memory 16, and that audio data is delivered tothe encoder 28, at which it is encoded by the ATRAC2 system. Further,data encoded at the encoder 28 is temporarily stored for a second timeinto the buffer memory 16. Finally, audio information thus encoded isstored with respect to the HDD 15.

It is to be noted that while, in this more practical example, therecording/reproducing unit 10 is caused to be of structure such thataudio data encoded in accordance with the ATRAC2 system by the encoder28 is stored with respect to the HDD 15, there may be employed, e.g., aconfiguration such that data which is read out from the CD-ROM drive 17is stored with respect to the HDD 15 as it is.

The encoder 28 is caused to be of structure such that not only datawhich has been read out from optical disc loaded with respect to theCD-ROM drive 17 is encoded, but also audio signal inputted through anamplifier 32 from microphone terminal ta3 to which microphone isconnected, and audio signal inputted from line input terminal ta2 towhich equipment such as other CD player, etc. are connected are inputtedthrough an A/D converter 31. These inputted audio data are also encodedby the encoder 28. Further, the recording/reproducing unit 10 is causedto be of structure such that data inputted from external equipment,e.g., CD player, etc. connected to optical digital terminal ta4 isinputted to the encoder 28 through an IEC 958 (InternationalElectrotechnical Commission 958) encoder 30. Data inputted in accordancewith the optical digital system in this way is also encoded by theencoder 28.

At the recording/reproducing unit 10, as described above, data inputtedfrom external equipment is encoded by the encoder 28 thereafter to haveability to store encoded data, e.g., in file units with respect to HDD15. It is to be noted that while ATRAC2 (trade name) is used as encodealgorism of the encoder 28, it is only required that correspondingencode algorism is encode algorism for compressing information, and maybe, e.g., ATRAC (trade name), ATRAC3 (trade name), MPEG (moving picturecoding experts group), PASC (precision adaptive sub-band coding), TwinVQ(Transform-domain Weighted Interleave Vector Quantization, trade name),RealAudio (trade name), LiquidAudio (trade name), MA-Audio (MicrosoftAudio), etc.

Moreover, at the recording/reproducing unit 10, there is provided amodem 19 which is interface connectable to external network, connectedto communication terminal ta5 as communication line 3, e.g., Internet,TEL network, cable TV, wireless network, etc. Further, request signalwhich makes a request for any service, and information of media loadedwith respect to CD-ROM drive 17, user ID, user information, usercharging information, etc. are sent to server at remote place throughthe modern 19.

At the server of the external network, i.e., server side commnicatablethrough communication line 3, collation processing by user ID, chargingprocessing and retrieval of music additional information from discinformation, e.g. title of music, artist name, composer, songwriter,words, jacket image, etc. are carried out. The server of the externalnetwork sends predetermined additional information that user requestsback to the recording/reproducing unit 10. While the example whereadditional related information with respect to music is sent back isindicated here, there may be employed a configuration such that musicinformation that user requests is directly down-loaded from the externalnetwork. In addition, there may be employed a configuration in whichmusic information are sent back in correspondence with media informationso that bonus track of a predetermined medium is acquired at therecording/reproducing unit 10 by delivery.

Audio information stored with respect to the HDD 15 is decoded by thedecoder 29. Thus, reproduction sound is outputted from a speaker 35through a D/A converter 33, an amplifier 34. Alternatively, audioinformation stored with respect to the HDD 15 is outputted asreproduction sound from headphone as the result of the fact thatheadphone is connected to headphone terminal ta1. It is to be noted thatwhile the decoder 29 serves to carry out decode operation of the ATRAC2system in this more practical example, any decode algorism correspondingto encode algorism of the encoder 28 may be employed. In addition,processing of the encoder 28 and the decoder 29 may be carried out bysoftware by the CPU 11 without constituting them by hardware.

Moreover, it is also possible to similarly reproduce CD loaded withrespect to the CD-ROM drive 17. Namely, respective music data recordedas respective tracks with respect to CD are read out from the CD inaccordance with capacity of the buffer memory 16 in the CD-ROM drive 17and are stored into the buffer memory 16. Such data are continuouslydelivered to the decoder 29 at a predetermined rate from the buffermemory 16. In this example, since data recorded on the CD isnon-compressed data, the data is caused to be through the decoder 29 atthe time of reproduction of CD and reproduction data is delivered to theD/A converter 33. Further, reproduction data is converted into analogaudio signal by the D/A converter 33, and is then outputted asreproduction speech (sound) by the speaker 35 through the amplifier 34.Alternatively, reproduction data is outputted as reproduction sound fromheadphone as the result of the fact that headphone is connected toheadphone terminal ta1.

Similarly, also in the case of the tuner 46, since data is notcompressed, data is caused to be through the decoder 29. Received datais converted into analog audio signal by the D/A converter 33, and isthen outputted as reproduction sound by the speaker 35 through theamplifier 34. Alternatively, as the result of the fact that headphone isconnected to headphone terminal ta1, received data is outputted asreproduction sound from the headphone.

Further, the recording/reproducing unit 10 can also reproduce MD loadedwith respect to the MD drive 18 to output data corresponding thereto.Namely, data which has been read out from the MD at the MD drive 18 isdelivered to the decoder 29 through the buffer memory 16. Thus, decodeoperation with respect to compression processing is carried out.Further, such data is outputted as reproduction sound by the speaker 35through the D/A converter 33 and the amplifier 34. Alternatively, as theresult of the fact that headphone is connected to the headphone terminalta1, data which has been read out from the MD is outputted asreproduction sound from the headphone.

Further, at the recording/reproducing unit 10, as interface for allowinguser to carry out management/control of file such as audio data, etc.stored at the HDD 15, display section 24 is provided also as shown inFIG. 2. The display section 24 is driven by a display driver 25. On thedisplay section 24, required characters, symbols and/or icons foroperation, etc. are displayed on the basis of control of the CPU 11. Inthis more practical example, on the display section 24, there isdisplayed, as icon for operation, symbol indicating that therecording/reproducing unit 10 is being operated by timer reservationonly for a time period of an operation by the timer reservation, i.e.,only for a time period during which timer reservation operation iscarried out. In addition, this symbol indicates that operation based ontimer reservation is being carried out and is constituted so as to alsofunction as icon for operation for nullifying (canceling) end time ofthe timer operation.

Further, on the display section 24, there is displayed folder or jacketimage corresponding to audio file (hereinafter file in which audio datasuch as music, etc. is recorded will be called audio file). Thus,operation by pointing device such as the above-described input pen 93can be made. For example, there can be carried out such an operationthat audio file that user designates on picture of the display section24 is reproduced. It is to be noted that click operation by mouse andtouch operation system such that user touches by finger, etc. areconceivable.

Further, by operation of touch panel displayed on the display section24, erasing of selected audio file and/or copying or move operation,etc. to external equipment, e.g., portable unit 50 can be made bycontrol of the CPU 11.

Further, the display section 24 is caused to be of structure such thatthere is graphically displayed html (hyper text markup language)document as related information retrieved from WWW (World Wide Web) siteon the internet on the basis of TOC (Table Of Contents) information ofeach medium loaded with respect to the CD-ROM drive 17. Further, thedisplay section 24 is also used for displaying ordinary internetbrowser.

Moreover, the recording/reproducing unit 10 is caused to be of structuresuch that audio information is taken thereinto, through IEEE 1394 (TheInstitute Electronics Engineers, Inc.) interface 37, IEEE 1394 driver36, from various equipments or systems connected to terminal ta7, e.g.,IRD (Integrated Receiver/Decoder) for satellite broadcast, MD player,DVD (Digital Video Disc) player, or DV (Digital Video) player, etc. Atthe recording/reproducing unit 10, as described above, there is providedthe PCMCIA slot 39 as further additional function. When PCMCIA card isloaded into the PCMCIA slot 39, expansion of various peripheralequipments such as external memory unit, other media drive, modem,terminal adapter, capture board, etc. through PCMCIA driver 38 can beeasily made.

Further, as explained with reference to FIG. 2, at therecording/reproducing unit 10, there is provided connector 27 forconnecting it to the portable unit 50. When the connector 27 and theconnector 60 of the portable unit 50 side are connected, the CPU 11 cancarry out communication of various data with the portable unit 50through interface driver 26. For example, the interface driver 26transfers, by control of the CPU 11, audio file stored at the HDD 15through the connectors 27, 60 to the portable unit 50.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are views showing respective examples of display form ofthe display section 24, wherein FIG. 4A shows display example at thetime of ordinary operation and FIG. 4B shows display example at the timeof timer operation. In this case, there is shown an example of the statewhere, e.g., audio file of CD recorded at the HDD 15 is selected tocarry out reproduction thereof.

Sound source information 24 a shown in FIG. 4A shows sound source beingselected. In this FIG. 4A, it is indicated that HDD 15 is selected. Inaddition, displays such as “CD”, “MD”, “Tuner”, etc. are carried out incorrespondence with sound source being selected. Further, on the displaysection 24, various information such as disc title information 24 b,jacket image information 24 c, audio file information (track name) 24 d,etc. are displayed.

The audio file information 24 d is also used as select operation pictureof track to be reproduced. For example, user selects a desired trackname by input pen 93, etc., thereby making it possible to select music.In this example, control is made such that music being selected, i.e.,track name is subjected to reversal display (indicated by hatching).Namely, there is employed a display form such that user can easily graspthe operation state.

Playing time information 24 e is information of passing time orremaining time, etc. of music being selected and played, i.e., musicwhich is caused to undergo reversal display at the audio fileinformation 24 d.

It is to be noted that display example shown in FIG. 4A is only exampleand the display section 24 is adapted so that in the case where thisdisplay example is displayed as one page, it is possible to suitablyselect and display other page in which operation information of otheroperational element (operator), e.g., editing icon of MD drive 18,and/or select icon of broadcasting program by tuner 46 is displayed. Anexample of other page is as follows. For example, as set page forcarrying out timer reservation, there are pages in which there aredisplayed timer designation time, e.g., start time and/or end time, kindof sound source to be operated, operation content, e.g., item in whichsetting of recording/reproduction, etc. is carried out.

As stated above, in the case where the recording/reproducing unit 10carries out reproduction of audio file recorded with respect to the HDD15 as ordinary operation, various information as shown in FIG. 4A aredisplayed. On the other hand, in the case of carrying out reproductionof audio file similarly to FIG. 4A by the timer reservation, active mark48 is displayed as shown in FIG. 4B. The active mark 48 is specificpicture displayed only when the recording/reproducing unit 10 is causedto be operative by timer reservation. This active mark 48 is caused tobe operator for canceling (nullifying) timer designation time by timerreservation, i.e., end time during designation operation in therecording/reproducing unit 10. Namely, when user operates active mark 48for a time period during which the recording/reproducing unit 10 issubject to timer operation, timer reservation is canceled. Thus, attimes subsequent to the time set as end time, designation operation canbe continued.

Accordingly, when operation of the active mark 48 is carried out in thestate shown in FIG. 4B, the active mark 48 is erased. Thus, there isconducted such a control to shift to display form similar to the exampleshown in FIG. 4A. Namely, since the active mark 48 is not displayed at atime period except for the required timer operation, it can be preventedthat unnecessary operator is displayed on the display section 24 so thatuser suffers from confusion in operation.

It is to be noted that while, as display form on the display section 24,as described above, user can select desired page, even in the case wherepage to be displayed is switched, display is continued with respect tothe active mark 48. Namely, there is provided a configuration such thatthe active mark 48 is displayed at all times during operation by timerreservation.

More practical operation of the CPU 11 in the case where timerreservation is carried out by user will now be described with referenceto the flowchart shown in FIG. 5. The CPU 11 at least functions asdisplay control means for controlling display of the display section 24,etc., operation control means for controlling the operation of therecording/reproducing unit 10 in accordance with timer 45, and controlmeans for controlling other operations of the entirety of therecording/reproducing unit 10.

In the case where user carries out timer reservation, user selects,e.g., operation picture corresponding to timer reservation setting atthe display section 24, whereby processing by the CPU 11 shifts to timerreservation setting processing (S1). In the timer reservation settingprocessing, when timer reservation information such as timer designationtime, e.g., start time or end time, designation operation, e.g., kind ofsound source to be operated, operation content (recording,reproduction), reception of broadcasting program, etc., is set by user,the CPU 11 stores set timer reservation information into a predeterminedarea of the RAM 13. When timer reservation setting processing iscompleted in this way, the CPU 11 starts the timer 45 (S2). Thus,processing shifts to timer reservation executed (reserved) processing(S3).

The detail of the timer reserved operation (S3) of the CPU 11 will nowbe described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 6.

The CPU 11 sets monitoring information at the RAM 13 by making referenceto timer designation time, kind of sound source to be operated, andoperation contents which are stored in the RAM 13 at step S1 (S31). Thismonitoring information consists of monitoring time, kind of sound sourceand operation content corresponding to timer designation time, etc.Further, the CPU 11 permits notification interruption processing every“00” second every minute, i.e., every one minute on the basis of timecount function of the timer 45 (S32). Further, the CPU 11 erases displayof the display section 24 (S33). Thus, the processing by the CPU 11shifts to operation to neglect, e.g., operation input except for, e.g.power switch (S34).

When such a timer reserved processing (S3) is completed, the CPU 11carries out, as shown in FIG. 5, judgment as to whether or not starttime notification from the timer 45 is received (S4). This start timenotification is notification received by interruption processing of thetimer 45 permitted at the step S32 shown in FIG. 6.

The interruption processing of the timer 45 will now be described withreference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 7.

The timer 45 is started by the CPU 11 thereafter to make judgment as towhether or not current time is “00” sec. every minute (S41). The timer45 detects current time (hour, minute) (S42) when it reaches “00” sec.every minute to carry out comparison between current time and monitoringtime stored in the RAM 13 (S43). Further, when the current time and themonitoring time are in correspondence with each other, the timer 45carries out judgment as to whether the monitoring time is start time orend time (S44). When the monitoring time is judged to be start time, thetimer 45 carries out processing to notify arrival of start time of timerreservation with respect to the CPU 11 (S45). As this notificationprocessing, if the CPU 11 periodically monitors required port, it writesarrival of start time of timer reservation with respect to this port. Itis to be noted that in the case where CPU 11 is caused to be ofstructure capable of carrying out message communication, the timer 45may carry out notification by required message. Further, when the timer45 carries out notification of start time to the CPU 11, it sets, asmonitoring time, end time set at the RAM 13 by the timer reservationsetting processing (S1) of FIG. 5 (S46).

On the other hand, when timer 45 judges that monitoring time is end time(S44), it carries out processing to notify arrival of end time to theCPU 11 (S47). Similarly to the step S45, this notification processing iscarried out by write operation into required port of the CPU 11 or bymessage communication, etc.

At the timer 45, such a notification interruption processing is carriedout. At the CPU 11, as described later, in the processing at steps S4,S16, judgment based on the notification content is carried out.

Namely, at times subsequent to the timer reserved processing (S3) shownin FIG. 5, as shown in FIG. 7, monitoring of time is carried out, e.g.,every one minute until start time is reached. For example, at the timepoint when, e.g., start time is reached, start time notification iscarried out with respect to the CPU 11.

Returning to FIG. 5, the operation of the CPU 11 after start timenotification is received will be described.

When the CPU 11 detects start time notification from the timer 45 (S4),it starts display control with respect to the display section 24 (S5) tocarry out processing to allow the display section 24 to display requiredoperation state and active mark 48 (S6). Further, the CPU 11 carries outa control to start designation operation set by the timer reservationsetting processing (S7). Thus, the processing shifts to timer operationmode (S8). This timer operation mode is operation mode for carrying outa required operation at timer designation time monitored by the timer45, e.g., for a time period between start time and end time.

When the operation mode shifts to the timer operation mode, the CPU 11carries out judgment as to whether or not operation of user is carriedout with respect to active mark 48 displayed on the display section 24(S9). At times subsequent thereto, at the CPU 11, until input of activemark 48 or end time notification by notification interruption processingS40 of the timer 45 is received (accepted), the timer operation mode iscontinued.

When operation of the active mark 48 is detected at step S9, the CPU 11carries out designation to inhibit interruption processing with respectto the timer 45 (S10) to clear monitoring information stored in the RAM13 (S11).

In this example, detection of operation of the active mark 48 at thestep S9 is carried out by detecting, at an input detecting section 42,coordinate values when the active mark 48 is pressed by input pen 93,etc. at the display section 24. The input detecting section 42 retrievesas to whether or not detected coordinate values correspond to objectindicated at a predetermined position on the display section 24, wherebywhen they are coordinate values corresponding to the active mark 48, theinput detecting section 42 notifies to the CPU, 11 that operation withrespect to the active mark 48 is detected.

Further, the CPU 11 erases the active mark 48 at the display section 24(S12) to cancel timer reservation information set at the step S1, i.e.,to clear reservation information at the RAM 13 (S13). By this operation,the operation mode shifts to ordinary operation mode to carry outrequired operation irrespective of timer reservation information and/ormonitoring time (S14). Namely, the recording/reproducing unit 10 iscaused to be of structure in which when user operates the active mark 48in the case where designation operation is executed by timerreservation, the reservation content can be canceled, and therecording/reproducing unit 10 is controlled so that reproductionoperation can be carried out subsequently to the end time that user setsat the time of reservation. The display form of the display section 24in this case corresponds to the state shown in FIG. 4A.

On the other hand, when operation of the active mark 48 is not detected(S9), the CPU 11 carries out judgment as to whether or not end timenotification is received by notification interruption processing S40from the timer 45 (S16). In this case, for a time period during whichend time notification is not detected, the CPU 11 carries out judgmentas to whether or not operation of the active mark 48 has been carriedout.

Further, when the CPU 11 receives end time notification in the statewhere operation of the active mark 48 by user is not detected, itcarries out designation to inhibit interruption processing with respectto the timer 45 (S17) to clear monitoring information stored in the RAM13 (S18). Further, the CPU 11 erases the active mark 48 at the displaysection 24 (S19) to cancel the reservation content set at the step S1,i.e., to clear timer reservation information at the RAM 13.

Further, the CPU 11 carries out end processing to complete designationoperation followed by end (completion) of timer reservation (S21). It isto be noted that such a control may be carried out to, e.g., allow powersupply of the recording/reproducing unit 10 to be turned OFF, etc.

Namely, at the recording/reproducing unit 10, as indicated by the stepS16 to the step S21, in the case where the active mark 48 is notoperated, designation operation can be completed at the end time set atthe timer reservation setting processing (S1). In addition, in the casewhere the recording/reproducing unit 10 carries out designationoperation in the state where timer reservation is not set, active mark48 is not displayed. Accordingly, this does not give troublesomenessfrom a visual point of view at the display section 24 with respect touser, and can prevent that erroneous operation is caused to take place.

It is to be noted that while, in the processing indicated by theflowchart of FIG. 5, there is mentioned the example where thereservation content, e.g., start time or end time is cleared byoperation of the active mark 48, there are conceivable such cases wherethere are repeatedly carried out reservation contents, e.g., time everyday, time every week, times from Monday to Friday, times from Monday toSaturday, etc. In such a case, there may be conducted a control to stoponly the operation of the timer 45 to sfift to ordinary operation stateto hold or preserve reservation content and monitoring information atthe RAM 13 without clearing them.

Moreover, while the example where operation of the timer 45 is stoppedby the active mark 48 has been described in the above-described morepractical example, there may be employed a configuration such that whenoperation of the active mark 48 is carried out, user can selectprocessing thereafter. In this case, when user carries out inputoperation of the active mark 48 in the state where display as shown inFIG. 4B is being carried out at the display section 24, e.g., display asshown in FIG. 8 is carried out. Namely, such an approach is employed tocarry out such a control to display menu picture 49 of the window formon the basis of input operation of the active mark 48 to carry outselection of processing item by this menu picture 49. In the exampleshown in FIG. 8, there are indicated, e.g., three operation items of“timer interruption” to stop only operation of the timer 45 tocontinuously carry out designation operation being carried out,“operation interruption” to stop processing of the timer 45 and to alsostop designation operation being carried out, and “close” to erase thismenu picture 49 without carrying out selection of the processing item.

As the operation procedure, e.g., input operation is carried out withrespect to the active mark 48 by input pen 93, etc. to thereby displaymenu picture 49, and input operation is carried out with respect to itemthat user desires of operation items displayed on this menu picture 49by input pen 93. Thus, processing corresponding to the above-mentioneditem is executed. Namely, user selects “timer interruption” in the casewhere he desires to stop only the operation of the timer 45, and selects“operation interruption” in the case where he desires to also stopdesignation operation being carried out. In addition, while userdisplays the menu picture 49, in the case where he desires to continuedesignation operation on the basis of the operation of the timer 45 asit is, he selects “close”. Thus, processing operation can shift to thestate shown in FIG. 4B.

It is to be noted that operation items displayed on the menu picture 49are an example, and there may be thus displayed item by which operationrequired for user can be realized in addition to the example shown inFIG. 8.

Moreover, while explanation has been given by taking the example of therecording/reproducing unit 10 in which CD-ROM drive 17, MD drive 18 andtuner 46, etc. are integrally constituted, this invention can be appliedalso to the case where respective components are separately constituted.

Further, this invention can be applied not only to, e.g., audioequipment for carrying out recording/reproduction of music, etc. as inthe recording/reproducing unit 10, etc., but also to various electronicequipments for carrying out operation control, e.g., operation start andoperation end by the timer reservation, e.g., as in the air-conditioner.

Further, while, in the above-described more practical example, there hasbeen described the example where operation control relating torecording/reproduction of the recording/reproducing unit 10 is carriedout on the basis of timer setting by user, operation control asdescribed below may be employed.

For example, such operation control may be transfer operation of datafrom HDD 15 of the recording/reproducing unit 10 to memory means thatthe portable unit 50 has, or transfer operation of data from memorymeans that the portable unit 50 has to HDD 15 of therecording/reproducing unit 10.

In addition, there may be employed a configuration in which, e.g.,operation such that file, that user desires, set on the basis of requestsignal by user is down-loaded with respect to HDD 15 of therecording/reproducing unit 10 through communication line 3 frominformation center 1, etc. is caused to undergo operation control on thebasis of timer setting by user of the embodiment of this invention.

In the case of down-load operation of data from the information center 1to the recording/reproducing unit 10, for a time period during whichdown-load operation of timer-reserved predetermined data is beingexecuted within a predetermined time, e.g., 2:00 to 6:00 of midnight,active mark is displayed on the display section 24. When active mark 48is designated for a down-load operation of predetermined data by user,down-load operation of predetermined data is continued even if currenttime is passed over 6:00 set as down-load end time, and is executeduntil down-load of predetermined data is completed. Thus, also in thecase where down-load operation is not completed at set end time, usercan easily releases setting of end time. Accordingly, such aninconvenience that data to be down-loaded is broken or cut in the middledose not take place.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As apparent from the above-mentioned explanation, in this invention,such an approach is employed to set time designated by user to controlthe operation of electronic equipment in accordance with the set time.When the electronic equipment is operative, display section iscontrolled so that specific display is carried out. Designation of userwith respect to the specific display is detected, whereby whendesignation of user is detected, a control is conducted such that settime is neglected and the operation of the electronic equipment when thedesignation of user is detected is continued. In the case where there isnecessity to carry out designation operation subsequently also to endtime by the timer reservation by controlling the electronic equipment inthis way, designation operation can be continued without necessity ofcomplicated operation.

1. An electronic equipment permitted to undergo an operation control based on a timer reservation by a user of the equipment, the electronic equipment comprising: setting means for setting a time designated by the user; operation control means for controlling an operation of the electronic equipment in accordance with the time set by the setting means; display means for displaying operation means for use in operating the electronic equipment; display control means for controlling the display means so that when the electronic equipment is operative in accordance with the operation control means, a predetermined display is carried out on the display means; and designation detecting means for detecting designation of the user with respect to the predetermined display, wherein when designation of the user is detected by the designation detecting means, the operation control means conducts a control whereby the time set by the setting means is neglected and operation of the electronic equipment is continued.
 2. The electronic equipment as set forth in claim 1, wherein when designation of user is detected by the designation detecting means, the display control means completes the predetermined display.
 3. The electronic equipment as set forth in claim 1, wherein the setting means sets at least an end time of a predetermined operation of the electronic equipment.
 4. The electronic equipment as set forth in claim 3, wherein the operation control means is operative so that when designation of user is detected by the designation detecting means, a control is carried out such that even when a current time passes over the end time set by the setting means, the operation of the electronic equipment when is continued.
 5. The electronic equipment as set forth in claim 3, wherein the setting means sets a plurality of operations of the electronic equipment and respective start times and end times thereof.
 6. The electronic equipment as set forth in claim 5, further comprising: memory means for storing data; reproducing means for reproducing at least data stored in the memory means; and recording means for recording data in the memory means, wherein the setting means can select, as an operation of the electronic equipment, either reproduction operation by the reproducing means or recording operation by the recording means.
 7. The electronic equipment as set forth in claim 5, further comprising receiving means whereby desired data can be down-loaded from an external source, wherein the setting means can select a down-load operation for down-loading data from the external source by the receiving means as the operation of the electronic equipment.
 8. The electronic equipment as set forth in claim 1, wherein when designation of the user is detected by the designation detecting means, the operation control means selectively conducts a control to neglect the time set by the setting means and to continue operation of the electronic equipment or to cancel the time set by the setting means and to stop operation of the electronic equipment.
 9. An operation control method for an electronic equipment that is permitted to undergo operation control based on a timer reservation by a user of the equipment, the method comprising: a setting step of setting a time designated by the user; an operation control step of controlling an operation of the electronic equipment in accordance with the set time; a display control step of controlling display means so that when the electronic equipment is operative a predetermined display is carried out; a designation detection step of detecting a designation of the user with respect to the predetermined display; and a step of conducting a control such that when the designation of the user is detected at the designation detection step, the set time is neglected and operation of the electronic equipment is continued. 